Month: October 2022

When you tell friends and family that you’re moving, they commonly assume that you will do it yourself. But, you must determine if tackling the move yourself is the right choice.

DIY moving is much harder than it looks, with real risks for your body and belongings. So in most cases, it’s better to leave the job to the experts.

Here are five reasons you’ll be glad you didn’t DIY your move and called in pro movers instead.

1. You’ll Still Spend Money

Most people think about DIY moving because they want or need to save money. But, in most cases, you still spend much of your cash.

You still have to pay for all the boxes and other packing supplies. You could spend thousands of dollars if you need to rent a truck for a long-distance move.

You’ll have to spend more on repairs when you make an expensive mistake. However, knowing that a professional is taking care of it for you is much better.

2. You’ll Still Need Help

When you’re young, asking friends to help you move may not seem significant. But, as you age, asking people to spend the weekend lifting heavy furniture for you is more challenging.

Even if you are strong and fit, you may have furniture or appliances that you can’t move by yourself. If you try, you put yourself at risk.

Hiring a professional mover eliminates the worry of asking for help. As an added benefit, you know that the movers will be reliable.

3. You Might Damage Your Stuff

Some people think that only they can take proper care of their belongings. But you might not know how to do that.

Do you know the best way to move a wide refrigerator out of a house? What about that heirloom piano?

Moving your most precious items, like expensive technology or jewelry yourself, is a wise idea. However, movers are more likely to get it there in one piece for the big stuff.

4. You’ll Have More Obstacles

When you DIY a move, you’re putting yourself in charge of clearing all obstacles. For a long-distance move, that might mean dozens of complicated decisions.

There are tons of things that could come up in the process of loading or moving that you didn’t anticipate. For example, loading a truck, and realizing that you can’t fit everything, is a big problem.

Hiring movers gives you experienced experts to handle the challenges.

5. You Could Get Hurt

Most people aren’t in the habit of moving heavy furniture all day. Your body simply isn’t used to it.

It’s not just a matter of whether you can lift the item in question. Moving is a repetitive task that compounds the stress on your body. You may hurt yourself in the process.

The worst part is that you might not even notice it at the moment. So instead of putting yourself at risk for complicated injuries, it’s better to have someone else do it.

Moving Assistance

DIY moving may seem like a great idea, but it’s more trouble than it’s worth. To schedule your upcoming move, contact us for a quote.

As you plan for retirement, you’ll need to consider everything from your financial situation to where you live. While you could remain in your current home, many retirees choose to downsize. A few reasons to downsize when retiring include less maintenance, upkeep, and cheaper bills. First, however, you must ensure you’re correctly downsizing your home.

So, with that in mind, let’s look at the steps you should take to downsize your home when retiring.

Chances are you’ve been preparing for retirement for a while and have many plans. However, you must also consider your health and how that could affect your situation. For example, if you’re trying to travel a lot during retirement, will you be able to walk and hike, or will you need mobility assistance?

Step One: Consider Your Current and Future Needs

Even if you’re in the best of health right now, age can cause various problems. Eventually, you’ll likely have to move into assisted living or get someone to move in to help you around the house. So, consider these elements when deciding when and where you’ll be downsizing.

Step Two: How Much Can You Afford?

The golden question about retirement is how much money will you have, and how long will it last? Ideally, you’ll have investment funds to keep earning interest during your retirement years, so you don’t have to eat up your savings. Here is where downsizing can be a benefit since you can potentially save money on property taxes, mortgages, or rent prices.

An alternative is to move into a retirement community where they provide many amenities. Although these communities can be somewhat expensive, you’ll save money in different areas (i.e., meals and transportation costs).

Step Three: Where Can You Cut Costs?

As you’re calculating your retirement income and expenses, you should pay attention to different ways to mitigate your bills, such as:

• Living With Roommates – Even if you’re retiring with your spouse, you may want to get a roommate or tenant to help split utility bills and mortgage payments.
• Moving to a more affordable Part of Town – While you don’t want to live in an unsafe area, some neighborhoods are much pricier than others. Figure out what you’re comfortable with that fits within your budget.
• Working Part-Time – Many retirees work part-time jobs, so they have something to do in their spare time and to avoid dipping too much into their savings. If you’re thinking of working, will you need to commute to a job, or do you plan to work from home? Your new location may influence your decision more than you realize.

Step Four: Reducing Your Clutter

Once you decide to downsize, you must also get rid of many of your current belongings. It’s best to shed excess clutter as soon as possible so you don’t have to transport anything you don’t need. While garage and yard sales can help you recoup some money, you may need to donate many items (usually clothes) to get rid of them.

Get Moving Help for Your Retirement

Moving your stuff by yourself seems far less appealing as you enter your golden years. Fortunately, we can help you transition to a leaner, more efficient lifestyle. Contact us for a free quote!